Racing game and puzzle



NV. 9, 1948. I R MI WETZE'L `2,453,290

RACING GAME AND PUZZLE AFiled April 19, 1944 2 sheets-snoei' Y1 INVENTO Q R ,Ll/5 TrozA/EY Nov. 9, 1948. R. M. wETz'EL 2,453,290

l RACING GAME AND PUZZLE Filed April 19,'*1944 v 2 `sheets-sheet 2 INVENToR.

FOL ANDMMTZEL /'//5 TToz/vey Patented Nov. 9, 1948 UNITED ASTATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

rThis invention relates to vgames and puzzles and is concerned primarily with a game or puzzley of the"racing type.

At the present time there `are known certain games which involve racing in one form or another, such as horse racing. However, these kno-wn games are generally characterized as requiring the use of some mechanical device, such as a spinner, pair of dice, lor other chance contrivance to eiiect their playing.

The present invention has in View as its foremost objective the provision of a game or puzzle which is predicated on the theory of racing, and which completely eliminates all auxiliary devices such as cards, dice, spinners, etc.,.from its play.

This invention contemplates a game board with a diagram of a race track thereon in whichithe track is divided into lanes and the lanes divided into interchangeable sections with subdivisions of varying lengths and characters denoting dif ferent conditions of the track o-n the sections. The parts may be scrambled and rearranged to form the complete track before the game is played or the puzzle worked. Numbers or playing pieces in the form of entries are placed in the respective subdivisions across the track for each move and the number or entry in the subdivision with the most advanced end is the winner of each move and changes to the inner lane.

It is evident that there are many forms and knds of racing, among which might be noted boat racing, automobile racing, .foot racing, dog racing and horse racing. However, in View of the widespread popularity of the sport of horse racing, the present invention will be explained as it is applied to horse racing. vIt is to be clear- 1y understood, however, that this is no limitation on the invention as any puzzle or game following the precepts hereof might be based on other forms of racing.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a racing game, or puzzle, as above in-` dicated which includes a representation of a race track divided up into a plurality of pathways, with each pathway in turn cut up into sections representing strides or moves A further important object is the provision of a game, or puzzle, of the character aforesaid in which certain vof the pathway sections are provided with insignia Which are typical of certain conditions yor events which might be present or occur in the particular iieldof racing.v Thus, if the game or puzzle is applied to horse racing, certain of the pathwaysections may include insignia denoting that a horse ,has fallen ory Cil stumbled, or that a particular portion of the track is muddy.

Cooperating with this representation of a race track is a list of starting entries which correspond to the several pathways. This list of start-- ing entries includes not only the name .of each particular entry, but also a symbol which may indicate the particular performance which might be expected of that entry, thus, onev horse might be indicated as good on any track While another, is identihed as being a mudder.

A particular, important object of the present invention is the provision of a game or puzzle of the type above noted in which the outcome of any particular set-up is pre-determined. Thus, with any particular track layout and list of en-V tries there can be only one winner, and .the various entries iinish in a pre-determined-crder. The playing of the game or puzzle residesin the working out of this ultimate determination.

To the end of providing a game or puzzleofv this characterwhich is adapted for'home use, the invention has as a further object the provision of a game, or puzzle, of this type in which the race track is rendered of a sectionalconstruc?, tion with various sections interchangeable 'so that the set-up of the track may be variedfto change the game, or puzzle, which is to be played or' Worked out. y

A further c-bject of the invention is the proa vision of a game or puzzle of the character indi; cated which takes the form of a game board which carries the various interchangeable secf tions of the race track together with charts'which are explanatory of the track conditions and character of the entries. This game board may also present a brief rsum of therules ofthe game;

Various other more detailed objects and 'ad-v vantages such as arise in connection 4witl'r'carrying out the above noted thoughts inap'rac'- tical embodiment will, in part, become apparent, and, in part, be hereinafter stated as the descripvv tion of the invention proceeds. 1

The invention, therefore, comprises avracing game or puzzle consisting of a game board carry: ing the representation of a racetrack which-isl made up of a plurality of interchangeable sec-v tions together with explanatory charts and. rules', The track is dividedup into pathwaysr with each pathway in turn subdivided into .sections Ger-` tain of the sectionsoarry insignia -corresponding to track conditions or racing occurrences'and ,a list of entries is disposed in proper relationtothe track. The outcome of any set-'up for thetrack is pre-determined. l

reference characters denote corresponding parts,

and rst more particularly to Figure l, the gameV well known horseshoe track forming a recess in the game board, as shown at Figure 2, adapted to receive the removable portions describedbelow.

The track T comprises straight side parts IU and II, and a curved end section I2, It is n-otable that the curved end section I2 is made up oi a plurality of segments designated 3, I It, i5, and I6 respectively. Each of these segments I3, It, I5, and I 6 is interchangeable with every other segment for a purpose which will be pointed out later in detail. Moreover each segment in itself z.

may be made up of two or more parts, such as indicated in Figure 2, with any part of one segment interchangeable with the corresponding part of another segment. For example, the segment I6 may consist of the outer portion Ita and the inner portion'lb. The portion Ia would be interchangeable with the corresponding portion I5a of the'next `adjacent segment or the corresponding portion of any other segment.

The track T in its entirety may be divided up into any suitable number of pathways which' are continuous throughout the extent of the track. In the form of the invention shown in the drawing, the track T is shown as having seven pathways or lanes. These are-designated I, 2, 3, il, 5, 6 and 1. Lane I is the inside, or rail pathway. and lane 1 is the outermost pathway. Each ci' the lanes, I to l inclusive, is in turn subdivided into a plurality ofsections intended t-o denote strides of the entries, and, in the working out of the game, or puzzle, each stride consists of one move. Each of these pathway subdivisions is identified by the reference character s.

As is more clearly illustrated in Figure 2, each of the pathways, I to l inclusive, in the side parts I0 and Il -of the track T, are grouped into units designated U, each of the units, U, carrying a plurality of the subdivisions s. It is evident that the several units U are also interchangeable.

Adjacent to the free end of the side part IB, th'e board B carries the list of starting entries, which is identified as E. There is an lentry for each of the lanes I to 'I inclusive, and each entry will appear on a panel such as indicated at 29, and each panel will also carry a symbol, 2 I, which will indicate the character of the entry and the performance which might be expected of' it, that is, speaking in the racing parlance, the horse Ais:

i note certain conditions of the track or racing occurrences. The various symbols 23 will be eX- plained on the chart 2li. A rsum of the directions for playing the game may be set forth in the block indicated at 25.

While various rules may obtain for different games and puzzles following the principles hereof, it is contemplated that one fundamental rule be controlling, that is, that the entry that is leading at any particular move, is in the inside lane, that is lane I. If an entry in lane 2 should gain under the conditions of a particular move, it would move over into lane I.

proposes that no more than al single lane can be crossed in any one move.

In describing one method of working out the gaine, or puzzle, it is to be remembered that the various subdivisions s are of different lengths. Also, it will be assumed that on each move `every entry advances one stride simultaneously, that is unless it has been subject to a penalty or been rewarded by a bonus. fied by a suitable name and the symbol'which appears opposite its name may be interpreted in light of the chart 22 to determine what effect theencountering of said obstacles indic-ated by the insignia 23 should have.

In working the device with a pencil or marker as a cross word puzzle is worked each entry may have a number and, withv the track assembled as' shown in Figure l, the numbers may be placed in their respective subdivisions in the lanes across the starting 'end of the track. The number in the longest subdivision is obviously ahead so this number is placed in the next subdivision of the inner lane for the second move. The remaining numbers are accordingly placed in the remaining subdivisions of the differentflanes in the order depending upon the length of the rst subdivision. In the design shown in Figure l, entry 3 moves to the second subdivision in the inner lane, entry 5 moves to the second subdivision in the second lane, entry 2 to the second subdivision in the third lane and so on. In the next move the most advanced end of a subdivision of the second setv With all the entries Ein their original post positions, it will be assumed that each moves forward one stride. Upon referring to the drawing, it will be noted that after the first stride the f' entry in lane 5 encounters the condition indicated by the insignia A in the second unit S. Upon referring to the chart 24, it may be determined whether the entry is rewarded, or subject to a penalty. If it is rewarded, it gains moves and would move up toward the inside rail. lf it is penalized, it would lose moves, and probably would be passed by entries in the outer l-ane, whereupon it would be relegated to the outer position. Every time one of the conditions, depicted by the insignia 23is encountered, the worker of the puzzle will have to take into consideration the particular character of the horse, as indicated by symbol 2l, Thus, if one of the insignia 23 should denote a muddy spot in the track, this would have no effect on a horsewhich is indicated as being'good on any track.

The game, or puzzle, is worked out in stages. Obviously a pencil, pen, or other suitable writing` instrument may be employed to work out the several steps.

The game further Each entry will be identi.

Each move 'is taken with all ofA the" entries considered and their relative positions worked out. Naturally the entry which gets to the finish line rst is the winner. After one setup of the track has been Worked out and the outcome determined, an entirely new puzzle may be provided by merely nterchanging certain of the sections. Inasmuch as the various segments I3, i4, l5, and I6, as well as the component parts thereof, are interchangeable, and, furthermore in view of the facts that the various units U are interchangeable, it is evident that an almost infinite number of puzzles may be afforded by any game board.

It is further important to note that the device may be employed as a game with several participants each choosing one entry, or, on the other hand, it may be utilized as a puzzle which is worked out by a single person who wishes to determine the outcome of any particular seteup.

While a preferred specic embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the particular constructions illustrated and described because various modiiications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A game board comprising, in combination, a representation of a racing track having a plurality of continuous lanes therein, characterized in that each lane is divided into subdivisions and the lengths and numbers of the subdivisions are dierent in the respective lanes.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 42,924 Moss Aug. 20, 1912 231,963 Luens Sept. 7, 1880 402,700 Van Zile May 7, 1889 487,798 Thurston Dec. 13, 1892 921,863 Meaney May 18, 1909 971,024 Creasey Sept. 27, 1910 1,148,737 Atkins Aug. 3, 1915 1,449,393 French Mar, 27, 1920 1,413,481 Borie Apr. 18, 1922 1,476,175 Perkins Dec. 4, 1923 1,493,738 Cowan May 13, 1924 1,537,605 Hansen May 12, 1925 1,577,932 Palese Mar. 23, 1926 v 1,697,023 Rottenburg Jan, 1, 1929 1,726,952 Gonzales Sept. 3, 1929 1,752,248 Fransen Mar. 25, 1930 1,797,742 Ward Mar. 24, 1931 2,003,203 Kim May 28, 1935 2,053,001 Haliburton Sept. 1, 1936 

